When Will It End?

From the 1600s right into the 21st Century, The United States of America has been embroiled in racial injustice and there appears to be no end in sight!

Of course, when we look at slavery and its abhorrent effects upon a group of people when controlled and abused by another–there is no way justice could prevail in that situation. Beyond the “supposed end” of slavery, the injustices continued throughout Reconstruction, Jim Crow and even the appearance of Civil Rights Movement which is still being judged today. Did the civil rights movement ensure equality, justice or fairness–not just by society but in the eyes of law and Supreme Court Justices? Or was it all an act designed to pacify people for a time?

Depending upon who is asked, the answers to the aforementioned questions will certainly differ. Though laws were written, supposedly to ensure equality, our society as a whole has either ignored the laws or circumvented them. All of the protests and rallies of the 1960s and beyond have yet to change the mindsets of those in our society who are determined to hate and belittle anyone who doesn’t look like them or act like them. The problem goes beyond being a political issue, but it is an inherent moral, humanity issue and it’s time, we all did something about it.

First steps are difficult when everyone is not on the same page, so it is imperative that we all get on the same page, working to achieve, “total equality and justice” in our society for all people, no matter what their ethnic origin is. The best way to get there in the first step is to start treating all people like human beings instead of subordinates who are inferior to one group. Anyone harboring hatred for anyone else because of their skin color, religion, or sexual orientation needs to take a good look at themselves in a magnifying mirror. It is amazing what one can see when we take a very close look at ourselves and see the flaws that others may not see–with a passing glance. Of course, when we see certain blatant behaviors that indicate the level of hatred that resides within a person, we know they haven’t truly looked at themselves to see what we see.

What does hatred look like? It looks like pure evil–arrogance in how we treat others, defiance in how we refuse to accept all human beings as human beings, and ignorance in not realizing that no one group of people is superior to another–no not one. The evil pervades with lack of knowledge and determination to hold onto beliefs instilled from childhood. In some cases, those with wealth assume they are superior to others because of their bank accounts, not realizing that no amount of money will keep them from the same fate we all face–death. Some are hate-filled because of their lack of ability to achieve what others have when they think their “privilege” should be more significant than someone else’s hard work. Some are hateful simply because they can be–without cause–to unjustly mistreat others.

So, how do we combat the hatred? There is no one answer to this question. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others thought peaceful protests would make a difference. Sometimes they did and sometimes they didn’t. Sometimes, taking a more militaristic stance against injustice was thought to be the answer. That didn’t work either. The key to combating hatred is two-fold. One way is to wait until those who taught hate, die and the other is to educate–all people–in understanding that love really is key to finding solutions to racial injustice and inequities. But the first “love” must come from loving self. When we love ourselves and want to see no harm come to self, we are generally more compassionate and accepting of others. Love, in its purest form, is seen in our service–what we do for others and how we treat others.

Loving others doesn’t mean we have to agree with them on all levels, it means we’ll acknowledge our disagreement and agree to disagree, civilly, without name-calling or attempts to denigrate with whom we have disagreements. Serving others does not mean we become door-mats, or subservient to others, it means we stand up for what’s right, not afraid to speak truths or denounce lies. Until we reach this stage of interaction with our fellow human beings, we will continue fighting for racial justice and equality and many of us, may not live long enough to see the injustice end.

But while we yet live, we must fight to see the injustices and inequities end for the future of America and in order to do that, we must acknowledge the fundamental rights of all people–as guaranteed in the Constitution and the natural order of humanity. We are all human beings–one blood–bleeding red and we should have the ability and access to voting our choice in any and every election, no matter where we live, without the interference of anyone who disagrees with our decisions. We should not have to continue fighting for the right to vote, but in this society, one filled with hate and deluded by lies, fight we must, and we will.

Fear In The Absence of Love

The product of fear

When we allow fear to influence our direction in life and what we do, we lose sight of what “humanity” should lead us in doing.

Fear–an unpleasant emotion or thought that you have when you are frightened or worried by something dangerous, painful, or bad that is happening or might happen: (From the Cambridge English Dictionary—cambridge.org)

Fear–a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. (From dictionary.com)

Fear–an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger (From Merriam-Webster.com)

“Perfect love (unconditional love—my paraphrase) casts out fear.”

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” (I John 4:18 NIV)

Now, that the definition has been addressed and a biblical concept has been made, let’s look at what fear has done in our nation.

            From the beginning—when the first colonists came to this country—they allowed fear of the Native Inhabitants to influence their decisions and actions. The Native Inhabitants were different—they looked different and had different customs—therefore, they must be “dangerous.” At least that’s the attitude taken when human beings were slaughtered because they didn’t look like or act like the invaders.  Never mind the fact that those same “dangerous human beings” helped the first colonists to survive in this land. When the “killing stopped” of the Native Inhabitants, the white people restricted them the most barren lands and forced them into reservations, without thought as to how they would survive. They did and now the United States Government has acknowledged the Native Inhabitants and attempted in some ways to amend the damage done through various laws and policies. Let’s never forget this one—very important fact—the Native Inhabitants were here in this land—FIRST.

            Moving on to 1619—when the first slaves from Africa arrived on these shores (and possibly before they left the continent of Africa)—they looked different, had a different language and did things differently. But white slave owners didn’t care about the fact that bringing them to a strange land would make them unable to comprehend what was expected of them since they didn’t speak the language. So, what did the white slave owners do? They beat the slaves into submission without ever considering what they were doing to other human beings.

            Thankfully, the Civil War helped to end slavery when Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, but it did little to assuage the fear white people had of black folks. Before 1864, there were more black and Native slaves than white people so they made unfair and horrendous laws to maintain control over them (minority rule). Afterwards, during Reconstruction, some white people continued to mistreat and abuse black people, especially the poor, uneducated white people who later made up a large percentage of the “white hate groups.”

            Looking back at history and truly understanding the “fear” white people have of black folks is evident in how they continually tore down and destroyed anything black people as a community attempted to build:

The Atlanta Race Riot

            (blackthen.com)

Hoke Smith was a former publisher of the Atlanta Journal and Clark Howell was the editor of the Atlanta Constitution. Both candidates used their influence to incite white voters and help spread the fear that whites may not be able to maintain the current social order.

The Atlanta Georgian and the Atlanta News began publishing stories about white women being molested and raped by Black men. These allegations were reported multiple times and were largely false.

On Sept. 22, 1906, Atlanta newspapers reported four alleged assaults on local white women. Soon, some 10,000 white men and boys began gathering, beating, and stabbing Blacks. It is estimated that there were between 25 and 40 African-American deaths; it was confirmed that there were only two white deaths.

Greenwood—Tulsa, Oklahoma—(Black Wall Street)

The neighborhood was destroyed during a riot that broke out after a group men from Greenwood attempted to protect a young Black man from a lynch mob. On the night of May 31, 1921, a  mob called for the lynching of Dick Rowland, a Black man who shined shoes, after reports spread that on the previous day he had assaulted Sarah Page, a white woman, in the elevator she operated in a downtown building.

In the early morning hours of June 1, 1921, Black Tulsa was looted, firebombed from the air and burned down by white rioters. The governor declared martial law, and National Guard troops arrived in Tulsa. Guardsmen assisted firemen in putting out fires, removed abducted African-Americans from the hands of white vigilantes, and imprisoned all Black Tulsans, not already confined, into a prison camp at the Convention Hall and the Fairgrounds, some for as long as eight days.

In the wake of the violence, 35 city blocks lay in charred ruins, over 800 people were treated for injuries and estimated 300 deaths occurred.

Chicago Race Riots (1919)

Termed “Red Summer.” On July 27, 1919, an African-American teenager drowned in Lake Michigan after he challenged the unofficial segregation of Chicago’s beaches and was stoned by a group of white youths.

His death, and the police refusal to arrest the men who caused it, sparked a week of race rioting between Black and white Chicagoans, with Black neighborhoods receiving the worst of the damage.

Rosewood Massacre (1923)

Spurred by unsupported accusations that a white woman in Sumner had been beaten and possibly raped by a Black drifter, white men from a number of nearby towns lynched a Rosewood resident. When the Black citizens defended themselves against further attack, several hundred whites combed the countryside hunting Black people and burning almost every structure in Rosewood.

Washington, DC Race Riots (1919)

However, Washington’s Black community was then the largest and most prosperous in the country, with a small but impressive upper class of teachers, ministers, lawyers and businessmen concentrated in the LeDroit Park neighborhood near Howard University.

By the time the “Red Summer” was underway, unemployed whites bitterly envied the relatively few blacks who were fortunate enough to procure low-level government jobs. Many whites also resented the influx of African-Americans into previously segregated neighborhoods around Capitol Hill, Foggy Bottom and the old downtown.

In July 1919, white men, many in military uniforms, responded to the rumored arrest of a Black man for rape with four days of mob violence. They rioted, randomly beat Black people on the street and pulled others off streetcars in attacks. When police refused to intervene, the Black population fought back.

Detroit Race Riot of 1943 (detroithistorical.org)

Like the successive rebellion that would erupt 24 years later, the Detroit Race Riot of 1943 was deeply rooted in racism, poor living conditions and unequal access to goods and services. The apparent industrial prosperity that made Detroit the “Arsenal of Democracy” masked a deeper social unrest that erupted during the summer of 1943. The KKK was active in the region and riots had already broken out in other cities.

Before and during World War II, workers migrated north to seek factory employment in such vast numbers that Detroit was incapable of adequately receiving them. Because black Detroiters were still treated as second class citizens, they suffered disproportionately from wartime rationing and the overall strains on the city. Factories offered employment but not housing, and because whites violently defended the borders of their segregated neighborhoods, black residents had little choice but to suffer in repulsive living conditions.

Detroit’s 200,000 black residents were marginalized into small, subdivided apartments that often housed multiple families. They were crammed into sixty square blocks on the city’s east side, an area ironically known as Paradise Valley.

Knoxville, TN Race Riot (1919)

In August 1919, a race riot in Knoxville, Tenn., broke out after a white mob mobilized in response to a Black man accused of murdering a white woman. The 5,000-strong mob stormed the county jail searching for the prisoner. They freed 16 white prisoners, including suspected murderers.

After looting the jail and sheriff’s house, the mob moved on and attacked the African-American business district. Many of the city’s Black residents, aware of the race riots that had occurred across the country that summer, had armed themselves, and barricaded the intersection of Vine and Central to defend their businesses.

Two platoons of the Tennessee National Guard’s 4th Infantry led by Adjutant General Edward Sweeney arrived, but they were unable to halt the chaos. The mob broke into stores and stole firearms and other weapons on their way to the Black business district. Upon their arrival the streets erupted in gunfire as Black snipers exchanged fire with both the rioters and the soldiers. The Tennessee National Guard at one point fired two machine guns indiscriminately into the neighborhood, eventually dispersing the rioters.

New York City Draft Riot (1863)

The Draft Riot of 1863 was a four-day eruption of violence in New York City during the Civil War stemming from deep worker discontent with the inequities of the first federally mandated conscription laws.

In addition, the white working class feared that emancipation of enslaved Blacks would cause an influx of African-American workers from the South. In many instances, employers used Black workers as strike-breakers during this period. Thus, the white rioters eventually turned their wrath on the homes and businesses of innocent African-Americans and anything else symbolic of their growing political, economic and social power.

The East St. Louis Massacre (1917)

During spring 1917 Blacks were arriving in St. Louis at the rate of 2,000 per week, with many of them finding work at the Aluminum Ore Company and the American Steel Company in East St. Louis.

Some whites feared loss of job and wage security because of the new competition, and further resented newcomers arriving from a rural, very different culture. Tensions between the groups ran high and  escalated when rumors were spread about Black men and white women socializing at labor meetings.

In May, 3,000 white men gathered in downtown East St. Louis. The roving mob began burning buildings and attacking Black people.  The Illinois governor called in the National Guard to prevent further rioting and conditions eased somewhat for a few weeks.

Then on July 1, white men driving a car through a Black neighborhood began shooting into houses, stores, and a church. A group of Black men organized themselves to defend against the attackers. As they gathered, they mistook an approaching car for the same one that had earlier driven through the neighborhood and they shot and killed both men in the car, who were, in fact, police detectives sent to calm the situation.

            Of course, we could go on for decades describing the indignities and inhumane treatment suffered by black people at the hands of white people and all because of their fear of black people. After the Reconstruction Era, fear motivated Jim Crow Laws which further limited the mobility and potential of black folks. All of this is documented in so many places that it would entail writing a book to list it all. But let’s take another look, with a microscopic perspective at events in recent decades—the killing of black males and females by white police officers. Without going into great detail about what is readily known and has been recently portrayed in the review of the practices of police officers who appear to not think twice about shooting a black person (suspect), but will go out of their way to treat known white killers with dignity and humaneness. Why? Fear of black people motivates the unjust use of force and eventual deaths.

            I’m not trying to relitigate the deaths of all those who died at the hands of police officers who appear to have racial bias. That would take too long and not many would read it, but I am trying to show how “fear” in the absence of love, leads to disastrous results. Until we learn how to love, unconditionally, all human beings (that’s not to say we have to agree with them), we will continue to see the ravages of human life at the hands of those who are fearful and promote fear to inflame others. What the world—especially those of us in America—needs more than anything else is “love” and understanding. Where there is no understanding of the experiences of another, we tend to fertilize fear with fearmongering and that has to stop.

“Access Denied”

I’m not sure how many black Americans feel about all the uproar from those who don’t fully understand, why Black Lives Matter, or what it means to have been denied access to so much in this country that has made the, “wealth gap” between black Americans and white Americans so great. Simply put, from the time African slaves were brought to this country, we have been “denied access” to the basics that promote prosperity for the general populace.

For those who do not claim to be racist, I would like for you to take a walk-through history–via an actual book or Internet research to understand how the denial of access has kept people behind. For those who know and understand–I hope you’ll speak up to confirm what I say and I’m going to use the plural pronoun, “we” because my ancestors were part of the journey and the multitudes who were denied access.

• We were denied access to the native language of the many tribes brought to this country. Fear of what was being said, and not understood by white slave owners, forced African tribesmen to forego their native language to learn a new one–in captivity.
• We were denied access to learning to read or write the new forced language because the white slave owners knew, that once we learned how to read and understand the environment and how it purposefully kept people under control, we would rebel and fight for the freedoms we rightfully deserved as human beings.
• We were denied access to protecting women and children from being molested and raped by white slave owners who “raped the women” to expand their wealth of slaves without paying for more. Many of those women were raped in front of the men they had been given to for “procreating more slaves” and the men were prohibited from doing anything to protect their women.
• We were denied access to having our inventions patented because we were not considered “full human beings.”
• We were denied access to raising our own children when the “master” thought it was more beneficial to separate black children from their mothers so they could benefit economically.
• We were denied access to joining the military to fight in early wars and had to join all black regiments (check the history for yourself), there was more to the black regiments than the Tuskegee Airmen than many have no knowledge about.
• We were denied access to buy land or houses in specific areas and had to use white allies to purchase for us and then were denied access to equality of living in peace and freedom because white neighbors didn’t want us around them.
• We were denied access for the opportunity to go to school with white children (segregation).
• We were denied access to use public transportation in the same way as our white counterparts.
• We were denied access to college education and therefore established our own after a number of black people, sat in hallways, on the floor, grappling to understand what was said by white professors so they could also get a higher education.
• We were denied access to hotels, bathrooms, theaters, and restaurants and when were given access–we were seated in out of the way places so as not to upset or offend the white clientele.
• We were denied access to be accurately portrayed in the movies, and in television shows as a people with their own rich culture.
• We were denied access to economic growth–bank loans, mortgages, and other businesses. When some dared to defy the status quo and established their own access to economic wealth (Black Wall Street), angry, bigoted white people burned down the town and killed many of the residents.
• We were denied access to equal justice in all areas of our “so-called justice system. We were never given opportunity to prove innocence because were always judged guilty simply because of our skin tones.
• We were denied access to the same amenities of our white counterparts on trains, in bus depots and on buses.
• We were denied access to community amenities–the swimming pools, the tennis courts.
• We were denied access to healthcare and dental care and funeral homes–we had to establish our own which were not equal to the access others had.
• We were denied access to cemeteries–I guess dead black folks were a big threat.

So, I get why some people are up in arms with the current environment and awakening of reality–black people have a right to be angry and to protest the injustices suffered by our ancestors and what many are enduring right now–access denied–to being treated like a human being, American citizens, with justice for all.

The following is taken from a post on Facebook in response to someone bemoaning the fact that Black people wanted their own television station and colleges and universities–they did not understand why, so I responded. There was so much more, but at the time I read their post, only two things struck me to remember.

For Blinded Eyes–Historically

This morning, I woke up at 3:00 am and could not sleep, so I started scrolling through Facebook posts and ran across a post that got my attention. I cannot remember who wrote it, but perhaps, if they read through this one, they will know who are.

 

I do not remember all of it, but there are two things which struck me the most. You see, the post was bemoaning the fact that the author did not see the need for: BET (versus WET) or Black colleges versus white colleges. I wish I could remember more, but at 3:00 am, I guess I am doing good to remember this.

 

BET–the Black Entertainment Television–why? Because for years, there did not appear to be any room for black entertainers on most television networks. Most of the network productions portrayed black people as clownish or stupid, illiterate, and poor, with a few exceptions. The reason BET needed to be–because the WET (White Entertainment Television) (the author’s words, not mine) was all there was–and still does not adequately portray who black people are. But I want the author to remember think about this–exactly how long has the television industry been around and exactly how many shows accurately portrayed the black community? How long did it take for black entertainers to be taken seriously and given serious roles in the entertainment industry?

 

HBCU–Historical Black Colleges and Universities exist because for generations–white colleges would not allow black people entrance. The few black people who got into the hallways were left there–outside the classrooms, straining to hear what was said so they could keep up with the workload, but never accepted as part of the class. Historically, and apparently now, that attitude still exists today in some people who think black people are not good enough to get where they are.

 

I would ask the author and any who agreed with them to do some research and remember that the slaves were not allowed to learn to read, then they weren’t allowed into white schools, colleges, hotels, and when they were allowed into restaurants, they were seated “out of the way” of the white clientele.

 

If anyone is still reading this–that is a miracle, but I want to say this much. Instead of bemoaning or complaining about black people wanting equality and justice, remember what was done to us–and all the “access denied” that we endured, and yet, many of us have managed to do so much more than some white people who always had access to whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted it–and we did not. My response is not meant to stir up more racial hostility, but to hopefully cause some to wake up–and understand, we are just trying to obtain what you’ve always had–“access to doing better.” Whenever I see a lack of understanding about the history of black folks in America, I will address it and I would hope that–it would open the door to conversations that matter and will make a difference to all.

I do not have a problem addressing issues when I see them, but I will take the time to respond in a coherent manner, that does not promote any further racial tension. What I will not do, is to ignore the obvious ignorance that some have displayed simply because they want to deny history, or never understood it.

 

 

 

I’m Convinced!

Reviewing news coverage about the number of incidents that occur between white people and the police and black people and the police, I’m convinced that there is a conspiracy by law enforcement officers to “kill black people” when they’re confronted, but to “save” the white people (with a few exceptions).

How many black people (predominantly male) have been killed just because of their skin color? Not many institutions will ever acknowledge the number because then they’d have to realize the stark truth of the matter–black people are targeted by their skin color, not necessarily by any alleged crime committed.

Eric Garner–killed when a white police officer refused to listen to him when he told him he couldn’t breathe. Why? I’m betting the mindset was, “one down and how many more to go?” Now, keep in mind, Eric Garner had no weapon of any kind. But then, a white male walks into a Walmart with bullet-proof vest and assault weapon and he’s, “talked down” with no one even drawing a weapon on him.

How many times must black men tolerate being profiled by police officers and “white citizenry” who proclaim fear for their lives just because a black person was in their presence?

Now, to get some perspective on the situation, let me ask this question: How many videos have been made and promoted on social media showing a black person calling the police on a white person just because they were taking up the same air space? How many times have we seen videos of white people, calling the police on black people just because they were black and then making up “absurd” excuses as to why they called. But then again, we’ve seen many videos in which white people harass and try to bully anyone of another ethnicity simply because. Is this the America we all love or is this the America trump has unleashed, full of hatred and bigotry?

I wish I knew Spanish well enough to hold a conversation within hearing range of a bigoted jerk just so I’d have a chance to tell them exactly what I think of them.

People who are fearful–have not love or humanity within them.

People who hate are fearful.

Since I do not fear people, nor do I hate them, I’m free to love all–primarily because I love myself and have love to give to others. I care about the plight of people and when I see injustice, I get angry and want to fight for the rights of others–no matter how many or who I’d be fighting against. I will always stand up for the marginalized groups that are targeted by bigoted, hateful people. We cannot allow hate to severely impact how our children live and play with others or how we all interact with one another. We are all human beings and I am convinced, once we understand that one simple fact and if we have even an iota of humanity within us, we’ll stop the hate!

I’m convinced–the only way we’ll stop all the foolishness we see reflected in our society right now is when we’re willing to sit down and talk “to” each other, not “at” each other. I’m convinced we’ll discover we have more in common than we don’t have; we all want to protect our children, live in a safe environment, and have the means to support our families. We should all want the planet to survive our existence so our grandchildren and great grandchildren will enjoy clean air and water and non-toxic soil so they’ll have food to eat. I’m convinced, I’m not the only person who feels this way and what I’d like to see is for everyone who “knows” not thinks, that all human beings deserve to be respected as such would do just that–treat other human beings the way any of us would want to be treated.

If we are unable to do that, I’m convinced we will have failed as Americans, human beings, and examples for others.  We don’t have to agree with everyone else, but we must learn how to disagree agreeably, respecting the rights of others to disagree with us, without calling them names or trying to dehumanize them. It is a very “weak” person who uses such tactics against other human beings.

I’m convinced–we can save the nation by putting aside our need to make us feel superior to others. None of us are superior to any others since we are all, flawed, imperfect beings. Now, let’s convince law enforcement, not to be fearful of black people, until they have ascertained credible reason to fear them. Let’s treat all transgressors of the law the same and try to save them for the judicial system to handle.

If you’re convinced of the same, I’d like to hear from you so we can work together to get America Back On The Right Track!

 

We Must Continue The Fight!

Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” Joshua 10:25 NIV

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 1 Timothy 6:12 NIV

In the bible there are records of many battles, most of which are led by men, but some only by direction of a woman, Deborah. For those who are foolish enough to believe that a woman shouldn’t be in the White House as president–they might want to revisit the bible they claim they believe as it pertains to their faith in God. God will use whoever is willing to be used.  With that framework in mind–willing to be used–we know God did not choose trump since he is neither willing to be used by God, nor interested in being president for all Americans.

But we cannot afford to stop fighting for justice for all–now is the time to gear up and prepare for the long haul. Hatred and no one who promotes hatred–regardless of the “words” they say, will not reign in America as long as Americans refuse to allow it reign.

This country–(reminder) was inhabited by the Natives when the first settlers arrived. The Natives helped them to survive their first winter and what did the settlers do to show their appreciation? They fought against them, killed them and took their land. That’s how they showed their appreciation.

Then the settlers (from Europe) imported slaves because of their greed and they were too lazy to do the work themselves and too stingy to pay others to do it. So, they paid for slaves and forced them to work, treating them worst than some of their animals and when Lincoln finally acknowledged they were just as human as their white counterparts and declared so–legally–the haters–the white haters still found every justification to rape, lynch, burn the people and cheat them out of land.

We know that hatred abounded then and now with the Jim Crow laws that kept Black people segregated and limited their use of bathrooms, water fountains and hotels and restaurants. White people lied about Black people and justice was a joke since a jury–if used–was all white and usually, the white people just decided to lynch a person “accused of doing wrong” whether evidence proved it or not.

And now we’re dealing with the haters still–those white people who claim they’re afraid their race will be diminished by people of color. So to make sure their race “remains pure” they’re plotting to kill every person of color in America because they think–people of color have somehow kept them from–jobs, happiness, whatever–I don’t know how they justify their false premises–since they have always had opportunities to do things denied people of color.

Hatred is ugly and despicable. It’s roots are found in a person’s insecurities and in those who know how to manipulate others into believing a lie. The leaders of hatred and bigotry really hate themselves and because they feel impotent, they plant and nurture seeds of hatred until people begin believing that everything they don’t have is the fault of a person of color.

There is only one planet that we know of so far that is habitable for human beings–earth. We’re all here–one race–the human race–bleeding the same color. Though there are those who will continue to hate no matter what because it’s easier for them to do so, I will continue to love because it’s easier for me to do so. I hope others will continue the fight against hatred and bigotry everywhere they go.  We know The Word tells us that whatever is in our hearts is what will rise to the surface and overflow from us. Love makes more sense and so much easier to do than hate. We must continue the fight against hate.

My fight to eradicate hate will continue all the way to the White House as I encourage people daily to look within and recognize truth, not enabling lies nor allowing anyone else to pacify or enable false premises. We must be willing to accept truth about ourselves before we can speak truth to others. I am willing to be used by God and willing to serve all Everyday Americans and I will continue to seek support for my run to the White House.

Thank you for considering all that I’ve said over the years and for your willingness to support a True Believer and a True Patriot who wants what’s best for all Americans and one who promote peace and harmony for all other countries as well.

The Turn Around!

Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed–without remedy. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down. Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet. Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.  The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger. If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs and there is no peace. The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright. Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked. Proverbs 29:1-12 NIV

It is time for us to turn our situation around in America. No one should have to lose their life because of hatred, but we know–historically–that if we continue to ignore the obvious, more lives will be lost. We cannot hope to achieve any greatness by hating or promoting hatred. The bigotry that exists in the hearts of those who claim to know God, must be extinguished and never allowed to re-ignite flames of hatred.

For some–turning from their hatred–the seed that has been planted and nourished by ignorance and lies and sprouting and spreading through their lips–the journey to a pathway of seeing truth and admitting wrong will be a long one, but not an impossible. one. In order for a person to receive truth, they must desire truth and remove all the lies so truth will grow. I’m reminded of tending a garden. As long as the weeds are left alone, nothing of any substance will have room to grow. Lies are the weeds in our lives that must be uprooted so there will be room for truth to grow and change minds and hearts. 

If anyone claims no knowledge of what hate can do in a nation, they haven’t been paying attention. Bigotry and hatred have existed in this country for centuries and it would appear that since it has not been totally eradicated, we will have to deal with it until it is. Right now, starting with every individual–there must be a concerted effort to eradicate hate and plant seeds of love to turn this situation around!

Bigotry and hatred (and greed) were the impetus for slavery in this country.

Bigotry and hatred were the seeds planted that rose up against efforts for equality between the races and genders in this country.

Bigotry and hatred are bred in the soil of ignorance and insecurity and fear in this country and fertilized by unwillingness to accept truth.

Bigotry and hatred continue to exist when people are close-minded and unwilling to consider they are not always right about anything.

As long as we are resistant to communicating effectively with others, willing to sit down and listen to views that are not like our own and recognize we have a right to disagree, but we should learn to do so, agreeably.

We all have choices to make–right now, in the coming days, and for the rest of our lives. We can choose to live in peace and harmony by loving one another or we can choose to live in chaos and strife, allowing hatred and bigotry to reign and destroy.

I don’t know about you, but I choose to love and I have repeatedly stated that we can accomplish all things with love in our hearts, but the only end result of hatred and bigotry is destruction. I will not play a part in the destruction of a nation, but I will do all I can to build and stabilize the nation with love.

Knowing how to love and loving does not mean I have to agree with things that are not right and I won’t. Loving means telling people the truth whether they want to hear it or not, and whether they receive it or not. I will not stop speaking truth to power or promoting truth to all who are in my social media communities and everywhere I go. No one has to agree with me; I accept that–but as God reveals clarity of His Word to me–I will promote it, no matter what happens. And our current political climate is weighed down with such hatred and bigotry by those who think they are superior to others that we need to learn how to turn this around. I’m willing and I hope others are, too.

We don’t have to wait to 2020 to see a turn around in our nation, we can start now and strengthen our resolve to live in peace and love and in 2020 by choosing to elect a person who is willing to serve for the benefit of all Everyday Americans.

Praying For Safety!

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race, Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts. May the Lord silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue–those who say, “By our tongues we will prevail; our own lips will defend us–who is lord over us?” “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan I will now rise,” says the Lord. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. You, Lord, will keep the needy safe and will protect us forever from the wicked, who freely strut about when what is vile is honored by the human race. Psalm 12 NIV

For all who are participating in the March For Truth and other events around the world–demanding truth, equality and justice for all, I’m praying for your safety. God is with us and He smiles upon all who are fighting to defend the rights of the poor and vulnerable. Unfortunately for those of us in America, with trump in the White House–we are all vulnerable–since he has proven he has no ability for critical thinking or compassion on those who are less fortunate (financially–for he is morally depleted) than he is.

Father in the name of Jesus,

We know You are the same God–yesterday, today and forever. Whatever You did in the past to protect those who valiantly fought for justice and equality in the past, You will continue to do today and in the future. Encourage hearts in the face of evil and remind those marching You are going before them and no weapon lodged against them shall prosper. Strengthen their bodies and renew energy and determination to keep moving forward in Your strength, never wavering or being enticed by evil. Peace be upon everyone who knows The Lord and how to conduct themselves decently and in order. Thank You for hearing and answering prayer, to Your glory. Amen!

Remember the battle is not ours–it is the Lord’s and He shall conquer and we will be victorious in all we do that honors Him.

Be blessed and stay safe. Never allow the provocation of evil to determine your path; laugh in its face and keep it moving.

Looking forward to hearing the excerpts of victory resulting from this day and all those to come until we rid ourselves of the menace in the White House.

While you’re marching, think about the kind of “real change” we need to see in Washington and remember 2020 election is coming.

We Can’t Stop Now!

My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. You are the most excellent of men and your lips have been anointed with grace, since God has blessed you forever. Gird your sword on your side, you mighty one; clothe yourself in splendor and majesty. In your majesty ride forth victoriously in the cause of truth, humility, and justice; let your right hand achieve awesome deeds. Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king’s enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet. Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad. Daughters of kings are among our honored women; at your right hand is the royal bride in gold of Ophir. Listen daughter, and pay careful attention: Forget your people and your father’s house, Let the king be enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. The city of Tyre will come with a gift, people of wealth will seek your favor. Psalm 45: 1-12 NIV

If we concentrate on what is ahead of us and not linger too long about what’s behind us, we will see the great things God has for us. We are not defeated, even if we are moving slowly towards our goal. Sometimes, it takes careful, deliberate movement–cautiously proceeding to avoid the snares and pitfalls the enemy has laid out before us.

If we do things in a hurry, and inadvertently fall into a pit–who will be there to pull us out? If we become snared in the very thing we’re fighting–who will disentangle the truth from the false?

Though the road to success may be distant and arduous, don’t give up! Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day, and this fight–is worth the effort because our victory will change the way we do things forever–shoring up democracy for generations to come instead of allowing one family–to destroy it and us.

Remember the Alamo! An entire cultured was threatened with extinction but they survived.

Remember the Nazis! A horrific regime that was determined to destroy an entire nation of people because of their beliefs and though many died, many others survived.

Remember all of the things that seemed impossible and know that with God, nothing is impossible for us to accomplish. With Him going before us, nothing and no one can stop us from making sure truth is revealed and fascism in this country, stopped in its tracks.

There are more us than there are of them–remember only 62M + people voted for the GOP travesty we are now experiencing. Our role now is to convince the other 261M to get out and vote and to vote blue! We must convince all Americans to put country before party! Though some may mock our efforts now–they will applaud them when they understand truth and why we continued the fight.

No matter how hard we’ve worked or how dismal the prospects may seem, we can’t give up now! We must continue with all the fervor we can muster, determined to stand firm, and even though we may have a step back for a moment to regroup and refresh, we shall never give up! We can’t stop now! Victory is on the horizon and we are closer than we were in December–so keep up the fight and see the reward of our efforts.

Every day is a new day for us to renew our determination to keep America functioning as a democracy should where all have a right to speak their thoughts aloud and all have a right to have a say in our government and who should govern us, without interference from a foreign adversary or the promotion of false propaganda. We cannot allow anyone to take that from us. Democracy is the foundation of this Republic and will not stop fighting for its existence!

I’m Listening!

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. If they say, “Come along with us; let’s lie in wait for innocent blood, let’s ambush some harmless soul; let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; cast lots with us; we will all share the loot”—my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; for their feet rush into evil, they are swift to shed blood. How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it! These men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush only themselves! Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the life of those who get it. Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Proverbs 1

ATTENTION ALL WHO BELIEVED A LIE AND FOLLOWED A MOCKER!

When we listen to God and know He speaks to us because we understand His Word, we avoid falling into the snares and pits plotted for us by those who choose to lie and make a mockery out of those things we hold dear and sacred.

Traditions–established to maintain continuity and stability–especially in how our nation functions–should not be abandoned for the sake of ego. Now we see the consequences daily of ignoring traditions and respecting those which keep us safe from harm.

Those in the White House have disrespected its purpose, its honor, and the history of maintaining order so all Americans can feel safe.

There is no order or stability in the midst of chaos.

There is no honor or integrity in lying and mocking the most important position of the land–governing the people–who will not tolerate a dictator.

I do pray that all the Republicans and Evangelicals, who are about to see how The Lord reveals truth and exposes wickedness thought hidden, can handle the repercussions of promoting a pathological liar whose only desire in obtaining access to the White House was to assuage his ego and to humiliate President Obama and all he tried to do for the benefit of all Americans. No true Believer would have taken part in this mockery of justice and who we are in Christ.

I am a true Believer and I’m listening to God and watching and warning! If people choose not to listen–that’s their prerogative and they will have to deal with the consequences of not listening.

It’s time for a change–a change in this country’s views and actions that can only led by an Everyday American who understands–what all need to survive and thrive in this nation.

For Those In Authority

Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, and which now at his appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior, To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the merely human commands of those who reject the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Titus 1 NIV

Pray for understanding and re-read and then compare what is said to what we see in the behavior of those in authority.

Yes, I know this is Paul talking about authority in the church, but the same traits and expectations for leadership in the church should extend to those in authority anywhere else.

Think about it!

Of course the first person who comes to mind for me is the #WHidiot and all those in Congress who claim to be Christians but have not learned to walk the Christian life. They do not exercise discipline; they are corrupt and self-serving, seeking what they can do for themselves and not concerned about what is best for all Americans; and they lack self-control, are narcissistic, liars.

When God gives us instructions about how to be leaders, we ought to use those instructions across the board–in whatever situation we find ourselves–whether political or not whether paid or not. This is what it means to be a great leader.

Based upon God’s Word, we do not have a great leader in the White House; in fact, we have a tantrum-throwing toddler-in-chief commanding America’s military to stroke his own ego, not to protect Americans or American interest. This is an unacceptable way to lead and it certainly won’t protect us from the enemy–which is not outside the United States, but in the White House.

God knows and I’m counting on His love to prevail and protect those of us who know from the folly of the fool who thinks he is more than he is.